Andoni Iraola wins first match as Liverpool head coach, 4-2 over Sunderland

Image: Liverpool midfielder Kieran Morrison celebrates opening the scoring against Sunderland

Andoni Iraola won his first match in charge of Liverpool as his new side produced an impressive display to beat Sunderland 4-2 in their opening game of their summer tour of the US.

Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot at Anfield in June, will have been delighted with some of the football Liverpool produced in the Nashville heat, especially a fine team move that led to the opening goal for young midfielder Kieran Morrison after 13 minutes.

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The Basque, like his opposite number Regis le Bris, rang the changes after the first half, with Liverpool improving after the break to turn around a 2-1 deficit thanks to a characteristic Dominik Szoboszlai piledriver, followed by further strikes from fellow substitutes Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas.

However, there was one negative for Iraola, who saw stand-in captain and long-serving defender Joe Gomez forced off early on with what looked like a muscle issue in an area of the team where Liverpool really could do without any injuries heading into the new campaign.

The Key Moments from Nashville SC Stadium

8: INJURY! A big worry already for Liverpool with captain Gomez down with an injury and this does not look good for the centre back.

13: GOAL! The first goal of the Iraola era is scored by Morrison after a wonderful team move involving some impressive buildup from the likes of McConnell, Ngumoha and Elliott, who fed the midfielder in space on the right of the box and he then found the bottom corner with a low shot.

28: GOAL! Sunderland are level as McConnell loses possession deep inside the Black Cats' half allowing Le Fee to break up field and as the Reds defence backed off, the playmaker fired an unstoppable effort past a helpless Mamardashvili from 25 yards.

49: GOAL! Sunderland have turned this one around to now lead after Frimpong lost possession in a bad area, with the ball then slipped through for Tuterov, with the half-time sub finishing confidently.

56: GOAL! It is now raining goals as Szoboszlai hits an absolute worldie to bring Liverpool level after an excellent break down the left involving Koumas and Kerkez and after Sunderland only half clear the danger, the Hungary midfielder lashes home an unstoppable volley from the left edge of the box.

72: GOAL! And now Liverpool are back in front as Ramsey feeds Chiesa in space in the box and from a tight angle and faced with the onrushing Moore to beat, the sub finds the back of the net from a tight angle.

85: GOAL! Liverpool score another excellent goal to surely wrap this game up as Sunderland initially give the ball away and Szoboszlai finds Koumas in the box and the sub does well to find the net with a confident finish.

'A Lot of Things to Correct, but a Good Starting Point'

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola:

"I think it was different halves. Especially, they were a lot stronger in the first half. We kind of balanced both teams, and you could feel the difference. A lot of things to correct, obviously, it's the first day.

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"You could feel the heavy legs, the players have been training. So, we lacked some freshness. But it will give us a good starting point to improve things.

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"Probably the worst news has been straight away the injury of Joe [Gomez]. We were happy because we were kind of going through all the training without losing any player. Unluckily for us, straight away we've lost Joe."

Lots of Positives for Iraola to Take

Sky Sports' Rich Morgan:

Lots of positives for Iraola to take from his first match in charge of Liverpool, starting obviously with the win, although this being preseason in many ways it was the performance of his players and how well they gelled at times that will have most pleased the new Reds boss.

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Liverpool scored some eye-catching goals, the team got better as the game wore on, despite the heat in Nashville, and all 22 players used will be better for this first competitive runout of preseason.

Iraola Sweating on Nature of Gomez's Latest Injury

Sky Sports' Rich Morgan: